GOP Unveils Own 23-Point Trade Plan : Would Sell Alaska Oil to Japan, Strengthen Trade Negotiator

House Republicans, responding to Democratic pressure on the trade issue, today unveiled a 23-point measure that envisions the possible sale of Alaskan oil to Japan and a limited increase in power for the nation’s top trade negotiator.

“Protecting existing jobs and creating new jobs is at the heart of our program,” House Minority Leader Robert H. Michel (R-Ill.) told a news conference at which GOP lawmakers blasted a rival Democratic plan.

The Republican proposal “puts our trading partners on notice that we will not tolerate foreign trade practices which bar U.S. goods from their markets,” Michel said.

Under the measure, the U.S. International Trade Commission, which considers industry requests for tariffs and quotas for protection from damaging import competition, would make its recommendations to the U.S. trade representative rather than to the President as is now the case.

Shoe Relief Rejected

Concern about the estimated $150-billion U.S. trade deficit in manufactured goods heightened in August after President Reagan rejected a commission recommendation of relief for the shoe industry.

The trade representative, acting on his own, could also impose retaliatory tariffs and quotas to pressure other nations to lower barriers to U.S. exports under the GOP bill.

Under the measure, the President could overturn these tariff and quota decisions. In turn, however, Congress could nullify such a move by the White House and reinstate such remedies.

The sale of Alaskan North Slope oil to Japan is banned by law. The Republican bill would allow the President to negotiate through the trade representative for one year to sell North Slope oil and natural gas to Japan, but such an agreement could be concluded “only in return for substantial concessions by Japan regarding imports” of agricultural, wood, telecommunications, processed petroleum and other products.

Tight Quotas Studied

Congress is currently considering legislation to roll back textile imports flooding into the nation’s stores from East Asian markets and to impose tight quotas on shipments of shoes and luggage. The House and Senate are likely to vote on the issue this week, and Michel predicted that it will pass the House.

Democrats are sponsoring legislation to impose a 25%, across-the-board tariff on imports from Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and Brazil unless they lower trade barriers or reduce their trade surpluses.